Improvement in inclosures or play-houses for children



H. J'. PARKER.

ENCLOSURES 0R PLAY-HOUSES FOR CHILDREN. No.169,471 Patented Nov. 2,1875.

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NFETERS, PHOTOLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PA'IENT- OFFIoE.

HIRAM J. PARKER, OF ROCHESTER, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO SYLVESTER N. GARDNER, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN INCLOSURES OR PLAY-HOUSES FOR CHILDREN.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 169,471, dated November 2, 1875; application filed March 22) 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM J. PARKER, of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Childrens Play-Houses ,and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to construct and make use of the invention, reference being had to the drawings accompanying this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon, in which like letters refer to like parts throughout the specification, and on which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the invention opened out as in use. Fig. 2 represents the invention folded to be laid aside after use.

The object of my improvement is, by dividing into halves'the four corner and two middle posts of a rectangular frame-work, and

then joining together said halves by hinges, to construct a folding inclosure or play-house wherein, in the absence of an attendant, small children may be placed in security to themselves and without constant attention from others.

0 0 represent the corner, and m m the middle, posts of a quadrangular figure; but any other figure may be used, if preferred b b, the bottom, and t t the top, rails; l l, the balusters. h h are the hinges. ff are fastening-s (screw-bolts) for the middle posts, all of which parts, in point of size, are proportioned as desired, to suit the size of the structure intended for use, and any fancy or plain configuration for the posts, rails, or any other parts of the structure desired, may be used; also, the height of the top from the floor is, as designed,

but about eighteen inches, which is a convenient height for creepers. Both the corner and middle posts are longitudinally and radially halved or divided into two parts each, and then hinged together, as shown at h h, for the purpose of holding the parts all together and folding them for laying aside for future use. On unfolding the structure for use the screw-bolts ff are turned up to place, rigidly securing the sides to which they are attached, which also stiffens the whole frame. The parts are released for folding by turning back the same bolt.

Having described my improvement, what I claim, and wish to secure of the United States Letters Patent, is

1. A rectangular play-house, having four corner-posts, 0, divided diagonally and joined by the hinges h, two middle posts, m, divided at right angles and joined by the hinges z, forming, with the sides I of the balustrade, an endless frame-work, which may be closed into a fourfold compact block, for the purposes substantially as herein set forth.

2. In combination with the folding playhouse 0 m t I), connected by the hinges h and z, the screw-bolts f, for the purposes substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto, in presence of these two witnesses, set my hand this 17th day of March, A. D. 1875.

HIRAM J. PARKER. Witnesses:

SYLvEsTER LEwIs, ORRIN L. SMITH. 

